nothing less ➸ demar derozan

twenty-three

Isabella

"God damn, she can run!" I hear Paul say as I finish off my 800m. Sweat is dripping from his head as he gives me a high-five.

"That was nothing," I smile.

"Ay, I think you beat your time!" Haro yells.

"What is it?" I ask and grab my water bottle. Sweat was dripping from every inch of my body and I was getting irritated with it.

"2.19," he says. "That's like a minute a lap. I think my time was less than that."

I wave him off, "You're an ass."

He chuckles, "It's better than last time. C'mon, let's go give it another run."

I shake my head, "I'm done, Haro. My calves are cramping up." I sit down on the track and begin to take off my shoes.

"Yikes, I can smell those feet and I'm standing all the way over here," Paul covers his nose.

I throw my shoe at him and he tosses it to Haro, "Y'all both mean to me."

"All jokes."

Haro and Paul begin to take off their shoes and then slip on their slides. I had forgot mine so I just walked with my socks. I didn't want to wear shoes at all. We grabbed our things and headed to the gate. We had jumped over the gate because the field was locked. Haro climbs over with ease and waits for Paul and I on the other side.

"You need a lift?" Paul asks me because he helped me climb over when we were coming inside.

I nod, "Yeah." I take off my bag and hand it to Haro on the other side. Paul helps me over the gate and then Haro helps me once I get to his side.

"Thanks," I smile and look at Haro. He had let his hair grow out these past months, so his muffin top was growing. His thin, black curls bounced every time he walked. He was spending more time in the gym and the evidence was clear—he was beginning to get more buff.

"No problem," Haro cheesed. "Mom said we gotta get home quick, because one of our uncles are in town."

"Which one?"

"I think Eric," he shrugs. "I don't really like him, but he's family, right?"

I nod and agree. I didn't like Uncle Eric either. He just sent off this weird vibe every time I was around him. I was glad I wasn't the only one since Haro also thought the same. He just seemed weird. He's my dads brother so I had to respect him.

We rounded each others cars and I quickly told Paul 'bye.' We'd be meeting up tomorrow as buzzkills and virgins—hopefully we'd leave with the same titles. I didn't want to lose my virginity at no party.

"You good?" Haro asks.

I nod, "I'm going to that party tomorrow."

He shakes his head, "You're stubborn, you know that?"

I nod, "Sometimes."

"If you go, stay with one of the boys the whole time."

"I'm going to be with Paul."

"Why not DeMar?" He asks.

"Because we're not together."

He nods, "True, but DeMar is more wiser. He has these weird senses that are usually always accurate. He's smarter than Paul."

"Paul is smart."

"I'm talking about street-wise though," Haro says and looks at me as we near a stop sign. "He knows what to do in tough situations."